In fact, when he hauled it out of the ice, the first scale that he tried to weigh the fish on topped out before reaching the actual weight of the fish.

Thomas Knight told the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department that he'd been optimistic about his catch surpassing the previous record, but no-one expected the trout to turn out to be so much more massive than anything the state had witnessed before.

So, avid ice fisherman Knight was out on Big Diamond Pond, near to a place called West Stewartstown, last Tuesday when he got a bite on his line.

After a lengthy battle, he finally managed to land this absolute unit.

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He's understandably very pleased with himself. Credit: New Hampshire Fish And Game Department

The previous record stood at 28lbs, and that was a record that was set in 1958.

Knight's haul weighed in - once the scales could be found that could take the job on - at 37.7lbs.

That's nearly 10 whole pounds heavier than the next best. Finally, this fisherman doesn't have to exaggerate the size of his catch.

What's more, it's not only the biggest lake trout ever caught in New Hampshire, it's the biggest one caught in the whole of New England.

For those who aren't immediately aware, New England is an area of the eastern United States that consists of the six states of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

It's the biggest fish anyone's reeled in across a decent swathe of America, in short.

Fisheries biologist Andy Schafermeyer said: "I'm not sure who was more excited.

"I knew the fish stood a very good chance of breaking the record.

"At that point [as soon as the fish was on the 30lb maximum scale] I knew that Knight had caught a new state record, but I didn't know by how much."

Here's a decent lake trout, for comparison. Credit: PA

"Most state records, when bested, are done so by only a few ounces. Knight's fish shattered the old record by over 9 pounds.

"This fish is now the largest lake trout caught in all of New England."

The scientist also reckons that the trout, which measures 40 inches in length and 27 in girth, is about 50 or 60 years old.

That makes it almost as old as the record.

As for Knight, Schafermeyer added: "I'm glad he got it, this couldn't have happened to a nicer guy."

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford.
According to his French teacher, at the weekends he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother.
Contact Tom on [email protected]